City of South Perth community ranger Paul Fromont with Johnny the cat..
Camera IconCity of South Perth community ranger Paul Fromont with Johnny the cat.. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis

Ratepayers to fork out for felines at shared shelter

Staff ReporterSouthern Gazette

At tonight’s council meeting, the Town will need an absolute majority vote to approve the unbudgeted funds which will enable the City of South Perth to expand the facility it has shared with the Town to house dogs, to also accommodate cats.

If approved, the council will divert $188,783 from its surplus and the remaining $11,217 from the rangers area, which has the capacity to provide the shortfall, to help get the project off the ground.

A report by the Town’s business life director Nathan Cain said the City of South Perth had received a $256,000 Department of Local Government and Communities grant that would be lost if the $811,000 project did not go ahead.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The City called for tenders but the preferred builder’s quote totalled $311,000 more than it had budgeted for, requiring extra assistance from the Town.

Mr Cain said the Town’s senior management felt that it was a project worth supporting and in the unlikely event the neighbouring councils did not amalgamate, recommended the Victoria Park chief executive negotiate to remove the council’s rental obligations for a period of up to 15 years in lieu of the capital funding.